Locals welcome Winnebago sewer project, but not on their properties

Wednesday

Aug 7, 2013 at 12:01 AMAug 7, 2013 at 6:05 AM

WINNEBAGO — Threats of invoking eminent domain, condemnation of property and court summons. Village of Winnebago residents aren’t taking too kindly to the tactics being used by the Rock River Water Reclamation District in its attempts to establish a sewer line from the Kishwaukee Street treatment plant in Rockford to the village.

Village of Winnebago residents aren’t taking too kindly to the tactics being used by the Rock River Water Reclamation District in its attempts to establish a sewer line from the Kishwaukee Street treatment plant in Rockford to the village.

“We’re tired of being bullied like we have no right in the say so,” said Vicky Rowley, a Winnebago property owner.

Rowley was one of about 25 people who attended a town hall meeting Tuesday, blasting the district and accusing the taxing body of not negotiating in good faith.

For the most part, the residents don’t have a problem with the reclamation district bringing sanitary sewer to the village, a service that will ultimately lead to the decommissioning of the village’s nearly 60-year-old, inefficient wastewater treatment plant.

What they do have a problem with is the route the sewer line will take to reach future growth areas.

The route crosses the property of 29 private land owners, half of whom are not in favor of the project, Rowley said.

“It’s just nothing but destruction,” Rowley said of the proposed route that follows Fuller Creek. “And they are not willing to compensate us other than to waive the hook-up fee.”

Even if the land is restored with new top soil, residents expressed concern over farming on compacted soil, which will produce poor crop yields. There also was concern expressed about the sewer line possibly leaking into the creek.

Mark Jenkinson, a Cunningham Road resident, wasn’t the only one to speak out against the sewer line route, but he was the most direct.

“I have no desire for this to come through my land whatsoever,” he said. “I have no problem with the project, just take it off my land.”

Fred Dalgard cut short his vacation and traveled 400 miles from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to attend the meeting, armed with a summons in hand ordering him to appear in court for condemnation.

“They want to abuse the eminent domain powers that they have to step all over us,” he said of reclamation district officials.

Gov. Pat Quinn came to Rockford on July 29 to announce the awarding of a $12.9 million loan to help finance construction of the new RRWRD sewer lines to Winnebago. A second, $2.2 million loan will finance repairs to a 12-mile section of deteriorated sewer lines to help prevent backups.

Together, those projects are estimated to create about 132 construction jobs and about 56 jobs related to the purchase of services, supplies and equipment, according to Quinn’s office.

State Rep. Jim Sacia, R-Pecatonica, assured the residents their voices will be heard.

“If there is state money involved, you will have a say,” he said. “Those are your tax dollars. When you have this many people upset, something needs to be done.”

RRWRD Director Steve Graceffa also attended the meeting. He didn’t dispute the residents’ claims of being threatened with eminent domain, but he did say, “Obviously, there’s been a lot of miscommunication.”

He said the reason why sewer lines tend to follow creeks is because creeks are located in low land, which is the most cost effective way to deliver sewer.

He also said there is a reason for the variations in maps being shown to residents of where the sewer line will be placed.

“We’ve been told, ‘I don’t want it on my land, but if you move it 30 feet, I can deal with it.’ That’s why the maps change.”

He added, “Am I willing to look at another route? Yes.”

Graceffa and Winnebago County Board member Lynne Strathman agreed to hold another town hall meeting in the future.